Protective case for mobile device with integrated latch

ABSTRACT

A protective case for a mobile device is disclosed. The protective case includes a front cover, a back cover, and a relatively rigid shell. The front cover includes multiple fold lines that extend across the cover and allow adjacent regions of the cover to rotate or move relative to each other. The shell is configured to receive and retain the mobile device while providing user access to the mobile device. The shell has an outer surface configured to include a latch with an integrated hook. In operation, the latch hooks and retains one end section of the front cover to maintain the device in an angled use position when open. When in the fully closed position the latch fits within an aperture defined within a back end region of the front cover. Magnets incorporated into the front cover assist in maintaining the case in the fully closed position.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/620,804, filed Jun. 12, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/237,502, filed Aug. 15, 2016, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/590,975, filed Jan. 6,2015, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/924,695, filed Jan. 7, 2014. The above applicationsare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and are tobe considered a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This patent document relates to protective cases for mobile or handheldelectronic devices such as tablet computers, smart phones, gamingdevices and the like.

Description of the Related Art

Protective cases for mobile devices are known art. There is a continuingneed however to improve their construction and usability to enhance theuser experience.

Accordingly, it is here recognized that there is a need for protectivecases for mobile devices that include an integrated support latch thatfacilitates support of the device in a use position when the case isopen and facilities a more secure closed position.

SUMMARY

There exists a continuing need for new and improved designs for casesfor mobile devices that can provide high levels of protection andusability.

Various aspects of a uniquely design protective case for a mobile deviceare disclosed. The protective case includes a front cover and arelatively rigid shell, which together are configured to receive,retain, cover and protect the mobile device. The front cover includesmultiple fold lines that extend across the cover and allow adjacentregions of the cover to rotate or move relative to each other. The shellis configured to receive and retain the mobile device while providinguser access to the mobile device. The shell has an outer surfaceconfigured to include a latch with an integrated hook and magnets onopposing end regions of the front cover.

In operation, the latch hooks and retains one end section of the frontcover to maintain the device in an angled use position when open. Whenin the fully closed position, the latch fits within an aperture definedwithin a back end region of the front cover. The aperture may be definedby a ring component that is dimensioned to receive the latch and firmlysupport the latch. The magnets incorporated into opposing ends of thefront cover are provided to assist in maintaining the case in the fullyclosed position.

While various aspects are described above and in connection with theembodiments of the protective cases disclosed herein, including thedrawings and claims, it should be understood that any of those aspectsmay be combined to form claims for a device, apparatus, system, methodsof manufacture and/or use in any way without limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B are front and back face perspective views, respectively, ofa protective case in the fully closed position in accordance with theteachings herein.

FIGS. 1C-1D are rear and front side perspective views, respectively, ofthe protective case illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B, wherein the protectivecase is in an open use position to further illustrate the configurationand constriction of the constituent components and their operation.

FIGS. 2A-2B are more detailed illustrations of the front and back faceperspective views shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, respectively, of the protectivecase in the fully closed position.

FIG. 3 is a front face view of the protective case in the fully closedposition.

FIGS. 4A-4C are detailed illustrations of the latch ring and itsplacement in the front cover. FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective backview of the case in the open use position. FIG. 4B is a partiallydisassembled backside perspective view of the case in the fully closedposition wherein the ring is disassembled from the front covercomponent. FIG. 4C is also a backside perspective view of the case inthe fully closed position but further illustrates in shadow where thecorresponding magnets may be located on the region of the front coverconfigured to mate with the flap when the case is in the fully closedposition.

FIG. 5 is a detailed back side perspective view illustration of theshell component.

FIGS. 6A-6B are simplistic illustration of front and perspective viewsof the case components positioned in the open position with the frontcover liner component being threaded into a slot in the shell componentbut not attached thereto.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the external face of the front coverillustrating the layout thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Features, aspects and advantages are described below with reference tothe drawings, which are intended to illustrate but not to limit theinvention. In the drawings, like reference characters denotecorresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.FIGS. 1-7 illustrate various aspects of a single embodiment of theprotective case for a mobile device in the form of an Apple® iPad Mini®tablet computer. (Apple and iPad mini are trademarks of Apple Inc.) Itshould be understood, however, that the various aspects and teachingstherein are not limited to any particular mobile device and have wideapplicability.

FIGS. 1A-1B are front and back face perspective views, respectively, ofthe protective case in the fully closed position. The protective case100 includes a front cover component 200 and a shell component 300,which together are configured to receive, retain, cover and protect anApple iPad mini tablet computer. The shell component 300 is mostlyconcealed within the front cover 200 when the case is in a fully closedposition. FIGS. 1C-1D are rear and front side perspective views,respectively, of the protective case 100 in an open use position thatfurther illustrate the configuration and construction of the constituentcomponents and their operation.

The front cover 200 includes multiple fold lines 222, 224 that extendacross the cover and allow adjacent regions of the cover to rotate alongthose lines. The front cover 200 may be made of one or more layers ofnatural or synthetic fabric, such that an outer layer may be comprisedof a polyurethane fabric and internal layer may be comprised of amicro-suede fabric.

The shell component 300 is configured to receive and retain the tabletdevice while providing user access via apertures to the various controlbuttons (e.g., power, volume etc.) and ports (e.g., headphone jacks,data and charging ports etc.). The shell component 300 may be made ofmolded polycarbonate panel or wall. The shell component 300 has an innersurface 310 configured to receive and retain the tablet and an outersurface 320 configured to include a latch 330 with an integrated hook340. When in operation, the latch hooks and retains an end section 240of the front cover to maintain the device in an angled use position asbest illustrated in FIGS. 1C-1D.

FIGS. 2A-2B are more detailed illustrations of the front and back faceperspective views shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, respectively, of the protectivecase 100 in the fully closed position. The illustration depicts in moredetail the ring 250 that defines an aperture 252 with the front cover200 and the latch 330 that is dimensioned to fit snugly within the ring250 when the case is in the fully closed position. The latch 330 alsoprovides a hook 340 that engages an end section 240 of the front cover200 in the open position to facilitate support of the device at anangled position while in use.

FIG. 3 is a front face view of the protective case 100 in the fullyclosed position showing location of magnets 262 on a flap 260 thatextends from one end of the front cover to magnetically attach toanother end of the front cover. The flap 260 may extend from either orboth sides of the front cover 200 of the protective case andmagnetically attach to the other end of the front cover. In theillustrated embodiment the flap 260 extends from the back end and whenclosed flaps-over the front end of the cover 200.

Corresponding magnets 262 with reverse or opposite polarization may bepositioned in corresponding positions on the front cover underlying theflap 260 when the flap is in the closed position.

FIGS. 4A-4C are detailed illustration of the latch ring 250 and itsplacement in the front cover 200 so as to be configured to receive thelatch 330 on the back side 320 of the shell component 330 when the case100 is in the fully closed position. FIG. 4A illustrates a perspectiveback view of the case in the open use angled stand position with the endsection 240 of the front cover 200 secured under the hook 340 that isintegrated in the latch 330 formed on the back side 320 of the shellcomponent 300. FIG. 4B is a partially disassembled backside perspectiveview of the fully closed case wherein the ring 250 is disassembled fromthe front cover component 200. FIG. 4C illustrates in phantom where thecorresponding magnets 264 may be located on the region of the frontcover 200 configured to mate with the flap 260 when the case is in thefully closed position.

The ring 250 provides firm support to the latch 330 to mitigate relativemovement of the case components to further facilitate secured andmaintained protection when the case is in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a detailed back side perspective view illustration of theshell component 300. As illustrated therein the latch 330, which islocated generally centrally on the back side 320 of the shell 300includes a slot 342 formed on its underside that creates a hook 340configured to receive one end section 240 of the front cover 200.

Also illustrated is another longitudinally extending slot 362 formed onthe bottom section 360 of the shell for insertion of a fabric layer 212extending from the inner surface 210 of the front cover 200 asillustrated in more detail in FIGS. 6A-6B.

Additionally illustrated are various apertures 350 to facilitate controland use of the device and rubber feet 370 to provide a relatively highfriction surface that is capable of engaging the inner surface 210 ofthe front cover 200 or the top of the keyboard 400 while mitigatingslippage there between.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are simplistic illustrations of front and perspectiveviews of the case in the open position illustrating how the fabric linercomponent 212, extending from the front cover 200 and is fed through thefabric liner slot 362 formed in the bottom region 360 of the shell 300from the back side 320 of the shell for mounting onto the front face 310of the panel that forms the shell component 300 and thereby attaches theshell 300 to the front cover 200.

The fabric liner component 212 may be formed of any suitable materialand be heat sealed to the other components of the front cover 200 and/orshell 300 and/or may be adhesively or mechanically attached thereto. Thefabric liner component 212 in the preferred embodiment is flexible toallow for movement of the shell 300 relative to the front cover 200.

FIG. 7 is a line drawing illustrating the fabric layout of the frontcover 200 of the case 100 including the flap 260, the various fold lines222, 224 and flexible joint or living joint 230, and the latch aperture252 dimensioned to receive and retain latch ring 250.

Although various aspects are herein disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments, implementations, and examples, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the present inventionextends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to otheralternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventive aspects and obviousmodifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number ofvariations of the aspects have been noted, other modifications, whichare within their scope, will be readily apparent to those of skill inthe art based upon this disclosure. It should be also understood thatthe scope of this disclosure includes the various combinations orsub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodimentsdisclosed herein, such that the various features, modes ofimplementation and operation, and aspects of the disclosed subjectmatter may be combined with or substituted for one another. Thus, it isintended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed shouldnot be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments orimplementations described above, but should be determined only by a fairreading of the claims.

Similarly, this method of disclosure, is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that any claim require more features than areexpressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than allfeatures of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claimsfollowing the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporatedinto this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case for an electronic devicecomprising: a shell comprising a back wall including an inner surfaceand an outer surface, a slot formed through the shell, and a latchextending from the outer surface, wherein the latch comprises anintegrated hook; an outer cover including: a front region including afront panel; and a back region comprising an aperture defined by a ringdimensioned and positioned to receive the latch when the case is in afully closed position; and a connecting panel comprising: a linercomponent attached to the inner surface of the shell; and an attachmentportion attached to the inner surface of the outer cover between thefront region and the back region, wherein a portion of the connectingpanel is fed through the slot in the shell from the inner surface of theshell onto the outer cover for attaching the shell to the outer cover.2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the connecting panel is madeof a flexible material enabling the edge of the shell to both pivot andmove relative to the outer cover.
 3. The protective case of claim 1,wherein said front region further comprises a keyboard.
 4. Theprotective case of claim 1, further comprising a first set of magnetsconcealed within a flap configured to magnetically attach to a secondset of magnets with opposite polarization concealed within the outercover to attach the back region to the front region and maintain theouter cover in a fully closed position.
 5. The protective case of claim3, wherein the outer cover comprises a polyurethane layer and amicro-suede fabric layer.
 6. A protective case for an electronic devicecomprising: a shell comprising a back wall having an inner surface andan outer surface, and a slot formed through the shell; an outer covercomprising: a front region having a front panel; a back region having afirst back panel separated from a second back panel by a second foldline; and a first fold line between the front region and the backregion, enabling the front region to pivot relative to the back region;and a connecting panel comprising: a liner attached to the inner surfaceof the shell; and an attachment portion attached to the outer cover,wherein the connecting panel passes through the slot in the shell fromthe inner surface of the shell onto the outer cover for attaching theshell to the outer cover.
 7. The protective case of claim 6, wherein theattachment portion connects to the outer cover between the front regionand the back region.
 8. The protective case of claim 7, wherein theportion of the connecting panel between the liner and the attachmentportion passes through the slot in the shell.
 9. The protective case ofclaim 8, wherein the connecting panel is made of a flexible materialenabling the edge of the shell to both pivot and move relative to theouter cover.
 10. The protective case of claim 6, wherein the shellfurther comprises a latch extending from the outer surface, and whereinthe latch comprises an integrated hook configured to receive an end ofthe back region to support the electronic device in an angled useposition.
 11. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the back regionfurther comprises an aperture defined by a ring dimensioned andpositioned to receive the latch when the case is in the fully closedposition.
 12. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the back regionfurther comprises a third fold line separating the second back panelfrom a third back panel, and wherein an end of the third back panel isconfigured to be received by the integrated hook.
 13. The protectivecase of claim 12, wherein the second back panel further comprises anaperture defined by a ring, wherein the aperture is dimensioned andpositioned to receive the latch when the case is in a fully closedposition.
 14. The protective case of claim 13, wherein the first backpanel and the second back panel form an acute angle when an end of theback region is received in the integrated hook.
 15. The protective caseof claim 14, further comprising a flap configured to magnetically attachthe back region to the front region when the outer cover is in a fullyclosed position.
 16. The protective case of claim 15, further comprisinga first set of magnets concealed within the flap and a second set ofmagnets concealed within the outer cover to maintain the case in thefully closed position.
 17. The protective case of claim 16, wherein saidfirst set of magnets has opposite polarization from said second set ofmagnets.
 18. The protective case of claim 6, further comprising a firstset of magnets concealed within the flap and a second set of magnetsconcealed within the outer cover to maintain the case in the fullyclosed position.
 19. The protective case of claim 6, wherein said frontregion further comprises a keyboard.
 20. The protective case of claim 6,wherein the outer cover comprises a polyurethane layer and a micro-suedefabric layer.